Access door and casing



May 28, 1957 P. E. STERUD 2,793,721

ACCESS DOOR AND CASING Filed Aug. 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .PQdQTLE'. 15' ZGFZZCZ INVENTOR BY W.

ATTORNEYS May 28, 1957- P. E. STERUD ACCESS DOOR AND CASING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12, 1954 J .V M

federziSiefizza? INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent ACCESS DOUR AND CASING Peder E. Sterud, Sacramento, Calif. Application August 12, 1954, Serial No. 449,450

1 Claim. (Cl. 18946) By Way of background it might be stated that in many localities there are stipulations in the building codes providing that at least one access opening must be provided in the foundation of a building at the time of erection of the building.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the invention to provide a rectangular metal pre-formed frame of the desired size and shape for its particular application, the frame being so constructed that it may be installed in the foundation of the building during the building of the foundation, the construction of the frame being such that the frame will adequately support the weight of the concrete or other building material used in the construction of the foundation, during the setting of the concrete or material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rectangular member constructed of heavy sheet metal material which, during the period of pouring the concrete, is held in the frame in contact therewith to brace the frame until the concrete of the foundation has set, the door being then removed and replaced within its frame, providing a door for normally closing the casing opening.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating an access door and casing, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the access casing.

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the removable door used in conjunction with the casing.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the casing and door.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the casing and door, the casing being shown as positioned within an opening of the concrete foundation of the building, together with an outer flange for receiving the building finishing material.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the casing which is preferably rectangular in formation, is constructed of heavy sheet metal material of a width equal to the width of the foundation of the building, in which the casing is positioned, the casing in the present showing being indicated generally by the reference character 5.

As better shown by Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, an inner rectangular frame is provided and is fitted within the casing 5 at a point intermediate the ends thereof. This frame 6 may be welded in position in such a way that the open side of the angle bar material of which the frame 6 is formed is directed towards the inner side 7 of the casing for receiving the removable door 8, during the pouring of the concrete material of which the foundation is formed, to brace the casing and hold the casing against distortion under the weight of such concrete material.

After the concrete has been poured, the door 8 which is in the form of a removable metal panel, is held in position, but may be readily removed and reversed on the opposite side of the inner frame 6 or to a position as shown by Fig. 6 of the drawings, providing a door.

The casing 5 is formed with rectangular openings 9 and 10 in opposite end walls thereof, the openings 10 being provided to receive pivoted latches 11 when the door 8 is in the position shown by Fig. 5, or during the pouring of the concrete. When the door Sis reversed it is obvious that the pivoted latches will fall opposite to the openings 9 and may be extended into these openings to removably hold the door in the outer side of the casing.

In view of the fact that the door 8 is constructed to fit within the open side of the inner rectangular frame, or angle bar material, it will be obvious that when the door 8 is reversed to a position as shown by Fig. 6, where the door may be readily removed to gain access to the area under the building, ample space will be provided between the edges of the door 8 and casing to permit the door to be readily operated.

Secured to the open side of the casing 5, which is directed outwardly, is a trim support 12, which is also constructed of sheet metal material, the trim support being secured in position by means of rivets 13.

This trim support is formed with an outwardly extended marginal flange 14 which provides a support for bricks or other trim material to permit the trim material to be properly supported and held in proper relation with the foundation wall.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a preformed metal casing providing an access opening when positioned in a foundation of a building, during the construction of the foundation. This casing not only provides an adequate support for the heavy concrete material during the pouring of the foundation, but at the same time provides an opening for the reception of a door which normally closes the access opening in the foundation.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

An access building foundation opening frame, comprising a rectangular open-ended casing embodying side and end walls, around which a foundation of a building is built, an inner rectangular frame rigidly secured within said casing between the open-ended frame, said inner rectangular frame embodying an inwardly extended flange providing a door stop, said flange being disposed at a point centrally of said inner rectangular frame, between the open ends thereof, said side walls of said casing having elongated latch openings disposed at opposite sides of said flange intermediate the upper and lower ends of said side walls, a removable door in the form of a plate fitted within said inner rectangular frame in contact with said flange of the frame, bracing said casing against distortion under the weight of said building foundation during construction, and pivoted latches mounted on said door adapted to swing into said latch openings, removably securing said door within said inner rectangular frame on either side of said flange, and a trim supporting member of rectangular formation fitted within one open end of said casing, and extending forwardly therefrom a substantial distance.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,707,240 Traut Apr. 2, 1929 1,921,051 Traut Aug. 8, 1933 1,952,836 Burt Mar. 27, 1934 

